Soccer-Euro-Ukrainian twins give Poles double vision in Zen

Reuters

By Timothy Collings

KRAKOW, June 18 (Reuters) - Polish soccer fans seeking anescape from the galling prospect of Ukrainian success at Euro2012 while they lick their wounds after early elimination, couldbe forgiven for seeing double at the Zen restaurant and bar inKrakow.

For there, in the middle of Saint Tomasza street in theheart of the city, working in tandem as they prepare sashimi andsushi for a cosmopolitan clientele, they will find twins Artiomand Sasza, from Kharkov.

During matches shown on a giant screen behind them, theyroutinely field inquires about their family background -- andplace of birth -- with shy smiles. They give little away.

Asked if they are identical twins, they laugh. "I don'tknow," said Sasza. "I ask my mother and she said the same, butshe can tell who we are..." (sic)

Born five minutes apart, and raised in Kharkiv, one of Euro2012's host cities in the Ukraine, they were 21 in March and,unpopularly for some of Zen's regulars, are quietly hoping theirhome nation can cause an upset on Tuesday when England travel toDonetsk for a decisive final Group D fixture.

"I don't know what will happen because England are a verystrong team," said Artiom, speaking in English. "But, of course,I hope we can win.

"We are always working here. Everyone wants Poland to win,but now they can't... so maybe it will be Ukraine that goes tothe second round.

"When we work, of course, we cannot turn round to see thefootball. That is very difficult, very hard. When we aretogether we have a lot of emotions to watch the match."

Curiously, and almost invisibly, several visiting Britishreporters, in Krakow to cover the England team's nearby trainingcamp, have taken to watching matches at Zen.

"We did not know that, but we know that you are English,"said Sasza. "So we will see you here on Tuesday to see who canwin!"

Asked why they chose not only to move to work in Poland, butto choose Krakow, they grin again.

"It is very nice here," said Artiom. "The work is good andour lives are much better. Much, much better.

"It would be nice to go home and to support our nationalteam, but now it is better to stay here and to work."